Newcastle-based IDPartnership-northern (IDP), one of UK’s leading firms of architects and masterplanners, is celebrating winning a national award for its outstanding planning consultancy work at The Rise, Scotswood, in Newcastle’s West End.
The team’s vision and expertise was rewarded by securing the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) National Planning Excellence Award after six years of work on the scheme.
The product of a public/private joint venture – the New Tyne West Development Company – which comprises Newcastle City Council together with developers Barratt Homes and Keepmoat – is changing the face of an area which has undergone considerable decimation since the decline of heavy industry
Before work could commence, around 1,200 terraced homes were cleared from the sloping, uneven 60-hectare site so that a diverse, sustainable community of around 6,000 people living in 1,800 modern, energy efficient homes, could replace them.
Therese Choat, associate planner at IDP, was thrilled by the recognition. She said:
“The award recognises the close, co-operative working relationship between the City Council’s planning officer, the local community and New Tyne West Development Company. This has been key to delivering this successful regeneration, as we have been able to discuss any issues that arose, resolve and manage them at the earliest opportunity.”
The community has been involved throughout, sitting on a joint working group and attending workshops to comment on and influence design. A resident who has lived at Scotswood for 40 years commented:
“It’s a dream come true. They have done a great job and I’m very happy for the people who can move in to the new homes. It’s a new era for Scotswood and Newcastle.”
IDP is also celebrating the successful determination of the Woolsington Hall development proposals last week on behalf of Cameron Hall Developments, which is another scheme the firm has been working on for some time.